Package hydraulically-operated bulldozer unit for tractor frame mounting



April 3, 1956 E. R. BARRETT PACKAGE HYDRAULICALLYOPERATED BULLDOZER UNIT FOR TRACTOR FRAME MOUNTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1952 INVENTOR. Z'aWa/d' 2754/9222? April 3, 1956 E. R. BARRETT 2,740,213

PACKAGE HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED BULLDOZER UNIT FOR TRACTOR FRAME MOUNTING Filed July 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apnl 3, 1956 E. R. BARRETT 2,740,213

PACKAGE HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED BULLDOZER UNIT FOR TRACTOR FRAME MOUNTING Filed July 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IZFL'.

Ll U L INVEN TOR.

April 3, 1956 E. R. BARRETT 2,740,213

PACKAGE HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED BULLDOZER 7 UNIT FOR TRACTOR FRAME MOUNTING Filed July 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR. 2742 4/4 F 254/213??? United States Patent PACKAGE HYDRAULICALLY-OPERATED BULL- lfiqOGZER UNIT FOR TRACTOR FRAME MOUNT- Edward R. Barrett, West Dearborn, Mich., assignor to Gar Wood Industries, Inc., Wayne, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 1, 1952, Serial No. 296,543 4 Claims. (C1,; 37-144) This invention relates to scrapers and graders commonly known as bulldozers, and to tractors equipped with similar implements. This application is a continuationin-part of application No. 243,974, filed August 28, 1951, by the present applicant.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel and improved hydraulic means for adjusting the chassis frame of a tractor relative to the track frame, whereby an implement such as a moldboard carried by the chassis frame may be made of a width narrower than the width between the tracks, and may be quickly and efiiciently adjusted to a proper height, and in which the adjusting mechanism may be constructed as a package unit, so that it may be quickly and easily installed on the conventional tractor.

It is also an object to provide an improved hydraulic adjusting mechanism of the above nature including cylinders connected between the chassis and track frames, and in which these cylinders are adapted to be easily secured to the tractor parts.

It is also an object to provide a hydraulic adjusting mechanism as above described, which is constructed as a package unit including the fluid reservoir, pump, valve and cylinders, these parts being assembled as a unit with the implement, such as the moldboard, so thatthe entire assembly may be mounted on the tractor chassis.

It is another object to provide a package unit for a bulldozer as above described, in which the moldboard forms a part of the fluid reservoir-for the hydraulic system.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the hydraulic package unit shown in combination with a bulldozer moldboard,

with portions of the track frames also being shown;

, Figure 2 is a side view of the front portion of a tractor showing the hydraulic package unit attached thereto;

' Figure 3 is a partial front view of the tractor and hydraulic package unit with a portion of the moldboard broken away and showing the cylinder connections;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showing the connection of the cylinder to the tractor frame; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top view of the tractor and hydraulic package unit showing the disposition of the cylinder mounting saddleon the track frame.

The hydraulic package unit is shown in the illustrated embodiment as being combined with a bulldozer moldboard or blade generally indicated at 11, although it will be understood that other implements generally mounted on tractors could be a part of the package unit without departing from the principles of the invention. The moldboard 11 has attached thereto a pair of side plates 12 which extend rearwardly therefrom and are adapted to be secured to the longitudinal frame members of. attacice 2 tor. The moldboard 11 and side plates 12 serve to support the other elements of the hydraulic package unit, which is best seen in Figure 1. These elements include a pair of hydraulic cylinders 13, a hydraulic pump 14, a control valve 15 and a reservoir or tank 16 which, as will be described later, is constructed as part of the moldboard 11. It will be understood that .all of these elements of the hydraulic package unit are capable of preassembly, so that the complete unit may thereafter be mounted on a tractor.

Further describing the hydraulic package unit in detail, the cylinders 13 are disposed on opposite sides of the unit and each is pivotally supported atits upper end by a universal ball joint 17 which is part of a supporting pin 18. Pin 18 extends between the flanges 19 of a vertically disposed channel-shaped post 20, the two posts 20 being held in a spaced-apart position by a spreader bar 21. The lower portion of each post is secured to the rear end of its corresponding side plate 12 by webs 22 and by such means as welding. Preferably, the spacing between flanges 1-9 is such that the cylinder 13 is allowed freedom of rocking movement in a fore and aft direction during operation.

Side plates 12 are preferably of tapered shape and are secured at their wider forward ends to the rear of moldboard 11. The moldboard is preferably constructed with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 23 enclosed by a web 24, and gusset plates 25 are provided to reinforce the connection between the side plates 12 and the moldboard. At the side edges of the moldboard face plate 26 are disposed a pair of side walls 27, and the upper portions of the side walls may also form part of the fluid reservoir 16. Pump 14 is preferably mounted on the rear of the moldboard at an intermediate portion thereof, for example by a bracket 28 shown in Figure 3. The pump is provided with a drive shaft 29 adapted to be connected to the crankshaft of the tractor engine (not shown). The control valve 15 is also secured to the rear of the moldboard, preferably at the upper portion thereof, and isshown as mounted on reservoir 16 by means of bracket 30. Mounted atop the moldboard is a radiator guard 31 for protection of the exposed portion of the tractor radiator.

The cylinders 13 are connected to valve 15 in a manner which enables both sides of the chassistframe to be simultaneously raised or lowered. These connections include metal conduits 32 extending from the valve and secured along the flanged upper edges of side plates 12, and flexible conduits 33 upper and lower ends of cylinders 13. As shown, the upper fluid connection to each cylinder is through a hollow bolt 40 to which the pipe fittingis attached, this bolt also serving to attach the cylinder to ball joint 17. The hydraulic connect-ions also include a line 34 connected between pump 14 and valve 15, and a line 35 between the pump and reservoir. The valve is movable into several control positions by a link 36 connected to handle 37 by pivoted lever 38 and'link 39, the arrangement being such that link 36 may be easily connected to a crank 41 on the valve shaft when the unit is'being assembled to the tractor. One of the valve positions is to supply fluid from under pressure to the upper ends of cylinders 13 for raising the moldboard, and another position supplies fluid to the lower ends of the cylinders for lowering the moldboard. The valve is also provided with a neutral position blocking flow to or from the cylinders and thus lockconnecting conduits 32 to the I ends of rods 42 each have a ball joint clevis 43 which is connected to a mounting saddle 44 adapted to be secured to track frames 45 and 46. Mounting saddle 44 is of generally arch shape and has a plurality of straps 47 engageable with channel members 45 and 46 which constitute each track frame. In order to properly locate the mounting saddle 44 it is provided at its outer end with an extension 48 engageable with the outer track frame, and the straps have a plurality of bolt holes 49 for attachment to the track frames by bolts 51. The ball joint 52 of the mounting saddle extends inwardly therefrom for connection with clevis 43. It will therefore be seen that the piston rods may be quickly and easily secured to the track frames of the tractor when the package unit is being assembled thereto. In order to secure the mounting saddles 44 to the track frames, the usual springs between the front ends of the track frames and the chassis are omitted so that the chassis is supported at its front end by the cylinders. It will be understood that the rear ends of the track frames are pivoted on the chassis drive axle (not shown) in the usual manner. The longitudinal position of cylinders 13 is preferably rearwardly of the tractor engine so as to reduce length of cylinders required to raise and lower the moldboard.

In use, the package unit will ordinarily be assembled and pretested before connection to the tractor itself. This preassembly will include the moldboard 11 including tank 16, side plates 12, cylinders 13 and their mounting means, pump 14, valve 15, conduits 32 and 33, and radiator guard 31. The entire package unit may then be assemled to the tractor as shown best in Figure 2. In order to thus assemble the package unit and tractor, the unit is lowered into position with side plates 12 alongside longitudinal frame members 53 of the tractor chassis, and these parts are then secured together by forward bolts 54 and rear bolts 55, bolts 55 also passing through webs 22. of posts 20. Preferably, shims 56 are disposed between the frames 53 and plates 12 at the bolt locations. The valve may then be operatively connected to control handle 37 by the links described above, and the piston rods 42 connected to the track frames by means of mounting brackets 44. It will thus be seen that the package unit and tractor chassis form an integral unit which may be raised or lowered with respect to the track frames by means of the cylinders 13.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a moldboard, a tank integral with said moldboard, a pump and valve mounted on said moldboard so as to form a unit therewith, a pair of side plates secured to and extending rearwardly from said moldboard, said side plates being adapted for rigid connection to a tractor chassis, a pair of piston operating cylinders pivotally connected to said side plates and extending downwardly, hydraulic connections between said tank, pump and valve and said operating cylinders for raising and lowering the pistons thereof, and piston rods extending outwardly from said cylinders and adapted to be pivotally connected to the track frames of said tractor.

2. In combination, a moldboard, a tank integral with from the proper scope or i said moldboard, a valve mounted on said moldboard so as to form a unit therewith, a pair of side plates secured to and extendin rearwardly from said moldboard, said side plates forming part of said unit and being adapted for rigid connection to a tractor chassis, a pair of piston operating cylinders pivotally connected to said side plates and having piston rods extending downwardly, hydraulic connections between said tank and valve and said operating cylinders for raising and lowering the pistons thereof, a pair of mounting saddles adapted to be secured to the track frames of said tractor, said mounting saddles having inwardly extending portions thereon, and ball. joint connections between piston rods and the inwardly extending portions of said brackets.

3. A unit for use with tractors having track frames, comprising an implement, a pair of side plates rigidly secured to and extending rearwardly from said implement, a fluid tank, pump and valve assembled as a unit with said implement and side plates, a pair of piston-operating cylinders connected to the rearward ends of said side plates, hydraulic conduit means forming part of said unit and operatively connecting said tank, pump and valve to said cylinders to permit actuation of the pistons thereof in either direction, means for rigidly securing said side plates to the forward side portions of a tractor chassis, and piston rods extending from said cylinders and adapted to be connected to the track frames of said tractor.

4. A unit for use with tractors of the type having a tractor frame, a pair or" elements rnovably connected to said tractor frame at the sides thereof, and an implement vertically adjustable in response to relative movement between said tractor frame and said pair of elements, said unit comprising a pair of plates in spaced parallel relation, a connecting member extending transversely between said plates and rigidly secured thereto, whereby said plates and connecting member together form an integral unitary assembly, a fluid tank, fluid pump and valve secured to said integral assembly and forming part thereof, a pair of piston-operating cylinders, means movably securing one end of each cylinder to one of said plates, fluid connections between said tank, pump and valve and said pair of cylinders, the cylinders and connections forming part of said integral assembly, piston rods extending from said cylinders, means for rigidly fastening said plates to the opposite sides of said tractor chassis in such position that said piston rods are adjacent said pair of elements, and means for connecting said piston rods to said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,306 Keeler Mar. 2, 1937 2,073,823 Anthony Mar. 16, 1937 2,099,886 Hasson et al. Nov. 23, 1937 2,283,470 Sturges May 19, 1942 2,312,389 Cordes Mar. 2, 1943 2,312,390 Cordes Mar. 2, 1943 2,326,561 Reisser Aug. 10, 1943 2,334,374 Austin Nov. 16, 1943 2,341,151 Maloon Feb. 8, 1944 2,344,584 Austin Mar. 21, 1944 2,402,449 Rockwell June 18, 1946 2,434,693 Graham Jan. 20, 1948 2,495,057 Dillingham Jan. 17, 1950 2,543,989 Rockwell Mar. 6, 1951 

